Â鶹APP

Top 10 Things to Do in Fréjus 

Come to the city of Frejus for its pristine beaches that are sandy and plentiful, for a port that is an up market site to have fun in the summer, for museums, lots of culture, wonderful architecture and an amazing history lesson. The sky is the limit for you as far as art, culture and engrossing sights in and around this city is concerned.

Amid the rich culture and all the scenic places, you can’t forget that Fréjus being a summer resort, is blessed with eight beaches on both sides of the port. Starting in the west is Plage du Pacha, and then to the east just before Saint-Raphaël is Plage des Sablettes.

Always a hit with families is Base Nature François Léotard a long, shallow sweep of sand made all the more accessible for its car park and facilities for elderly and disabled bathers. You may be surprised to learn that the open, mostly undeveloped space behind this beach was once a military base which gives it such historical authenticity. With all that in mind there are plenty of things to do and places to see while in Fréjus but today we will just get into 10 of them.

1. Visit Fréjus Cathedral

Image sourced from Wikimedia Commons

It is a Roman Catholic church which is part of a complex of a larger fortified complex of religious buildings, some going back to the earliest days of Christianity in France

This ensemble is Known as the Cité Épiscopale, it was fortified and was set around the Gothic Bishop’s Palace. The cathedral at Frejus is distinctive with its cube-shaped tower.

The majority of the portions of The cathedral was mostly built in the 1200s on top of a far older church from the 400s.There are two naves, which were constructed at different times (one belonged to a defunct parish church) and then linked by an arcade.

2. Pass by The CloisterÌý

Cathedral of Frejus – Cloister

If you stroll to the north of Frejus Cathedral, you will find the Cloister to the north. The columns and the arches date back to the 13th-century and its capitals depict the keys that represent the town’s Bishops, while the Fleur de Lys represent the symbol of ruler Charles I of Anjou. When you take a closer look at its galleries, you can find painted and delicately carved images on the wooden ceilings. These paintings show animals and personalities from the 1300s and creatures from mythology. It basically is what I would call anÌý open gallery, or open running along the walls of buildings and forming a garth. Truly magnificent.

3. Immerse Your Eyes at the Baptistery

The Baptisery by Siefkin D R

The baptistery of the Frejus Cathedral is quite fascinating and has a separate entry for it. Here is a portion of the cathedral that dates back to the 400s, making it the oldest Christian site in Provence and one of the oldest in all of France.Ìý

It was in the 1300s when this baptistery was covered and wasn’t rediscovered by archaeologists until 1925.Over the course of time, it was revealed by the archaeologists that the marble floor is about 1,600-year-old. The big octagonal pool was the place where people were completely immersed during the ritual. Its interior has granite pillars, of Roman origin and have come from one of Forum Julii’s monuments.

4. Stroll up the Mont Vinaigre

Image sourced from Wikimedia Commons

You cannot miss catching a glimpse of the mighty Esterel Massif Mountain a range of dusty, maquis-coated mountains between Fréjus and Cannes to the northeast.

Mont Vinaigre is the tallest peak with a height of over 600 meters (1,968 feet). You can access it easily on the DN7 road while traveling to Cannes. The duration of the climb from the car park space is about half an hour and is a stiff one, though it is not tiring. Beautifully, the path is skirted by juniper, lavender, rosemary and other wild herbs.

Once you reach the top, you can enjoy the mesmerizing views of the Mediterranean Coast, Cannes and Saint Tropez.Ìý the mountain was also once the hideout of infamous 18th-century brigands like Gaspard de Besse, who has been described as a Provençal Robin Hood.

5. See some fascinating treasures at Musée Archéologique

Ancient Roman exhibits in the Musée Archéologique de Nîmes by Millevache

Fréjus’ Roman remains have seen better days, so the town’s archaeological museum makes a useful accompaniment. The city of Frejus has always been in the lime light for excavating interesting artifacts from Forum Julii since the 19th-century.Ìý And many of the best pieces have ended up in this museum.

The diggings have resulted in some exciting discoveries about how the city was made in the ancient times, and the customs of the residents during that era, giving insight to their domestic life.

There are some fascinating treasures on display dating all the way back to the town’s Grecian and Roman beginnings, from everyday objects to rare finds, such as a double-faced marble statue of Hermes, a head of Jupiter and a stunning 3rd-century mosaic depicting a panther and much more. The work involved with the archeological research is a fascinating read.

ÌýMake sure you pick up the pamphlet from the office just before the entrance and rea all about the history of this site. Well worth the visit alone to Frejus.

6. Enjoy the sight of Fréjus Aquaduct

Fréjus Aquaduct by

The town has many Roman remains in and around it, and yet one of the most interesting ones is the Frejus Aqueduct remains. This aqueduct was constructed way back in the 1st-century AD. It covered a total distance pf approximately 50 km (31 miles) and brought water to the town from the mountains. Several parts of this aqueduct still remain today.Ìý

If you want to enjoy the sight of the aqueduct remains in the best possible way, you can use the DN7, which is a modern road and follows the path of the old Roman Road through Aurilia. Rivers like Siagnole and Foux that were located in the mountains near Frejus supplied water for this aqueduct.Ìý

But if you’re an avid historian you can get in the car and hunt down a host of riveting sites: There’s a large trench hewn from the rock near the source at Roche-Taillée, a bridge where it crosses the Gargalon stream and a lot more besides.

7. Experience Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Jérusalem

Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Jérusalem by Patricia.fidi

Also just off the DN7 in the hills behind Fréjus is a thrilling slab of 20th century French culture.The chapel of Notre-Dame-de-Jérusalem (Our Lady of Jerusalem) which is a Catholic chapel of the . It is among the range of eclectic monuments around the heart of the city. The chapel is the last work of French artist, poet and film-maker who hired to design this chapel in the middle of pine and cork forest.

There are sensual curves drawn by Cocteau, dancing and huggingÌýthe rhythm of sunbeams tinged with stained glass. Between the drawings of a poet soon swept away by disease in 1963 and the works of the artists who succeed him, his adopted son, the actor, Édouard Dermit, visitors can explore a world peopled with naive and delicate looking holy characters.

8. Binge on some history at

Musee des Troupes by Blaue Max

The Troupes de Marine is a waterborne arm of the French Army, and was founded by Cardinal Richelieu in 1622. This museum explores the history of the Troupes de Marine, which is entwined with French colonialism and so is a rich resource if you’re interested in that period of history.

Discover the history of overseas France and the Troupes de Marine. The weapons, which gave its colonial empires to France, reveal their history to us through the windows. It is, moreover, the armament which serves as a common thread for the visit to the Museum of the Marine Troops whose multiple collections bear witness to the engineering of the Army from the 17th century onwards. The location is also no coincidence as Fréjus was one of France’s largest bases for its colonial armies, as attested by the large monument to the conflict in Indochina in the 40s and 50s.

9. Visit the Arènes de Fréjus

Arènes de Fréjus by Patricia.fidi

Arènes de Fréjus is a 12,000-capacity Roman amphitheatre located in Fréjus, France. Until the last few years the city’s amphitheatre had been a picturesque ruin, with big chunks of the seating terraces and arena decaying but still very easy to make out and fun to potter around.

The structure was built in the 1st century in recent times has since been restored as a venue for public events the arena has been used for major rock concerts, and the ancient sandstone has been covered with white concrete as a way of preserving the original structure and stopping it from deteriorating any further. In the recent past it has been used for hosting artists such as Rod Stewart, Queen, Iron Maiden, David Bowie and Tina Turner. Victor Hugo was one of many people to sing the praises of the old structure.

10. Enjoy a crazy ride in the Ìý

Aqualand by by Nofrills Excursions

The reason this activity is two in one is because, it’s an activity that the whole family can enjoy. It is ideal for the young at heart or families with kids. Make an evening of it and try to arrive before 10 PM. After that, it gets quite busy. Parking is available and the rides are reasonably priced. Designed for all ages, the smaller rides are good for the little kids. They have a separate area for small children’s rides and allow adults to go with their kids without charge.ÌýÌý

There are also plenty of daredevil experiences for teenagers and (growing old disgracefully) grandparents. All rides take tokens which you have to buy from the ticket booth. The restaurant sells food and refreshments. It’s open every night from June through to September.

After perusing churches and architecture, you may be in search of something to suit younger tastes, and this waterpark fits the bill. Just like the Luna Park, Aqualand is a place where the whole family can have a blast.

There is a total of 18 slides and pools, some aimed at the littlest visitors and others, like the award-winning King Cobra, that teenagers will be crazy for. The slides are quite varied, there are some individual slides and some where you go down in pairs on an inflatable raft. Parents can make use of the restaurants and cafes at the attraction, as well as the large tree-shaded lawn for picnics and rest. Peak summer days are extremely busy so it pays to either plan ahead if you’re coming in July or visit this one earlier or later in the season.